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MSC Cruises plans to resume MSC Magnifica cruises 29 April

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 February 2021 04 February 2021

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, said that it plans to resume cruises of MSC Magnifica on 29 April instead of the previously planned restart date of 14 February.

All cruises of the ship between those dates have been cancelled.

“MSC Magnifica will thus be replaced for voyages to the Eastern Mediterranean, including Greece, during the Easter period and throughout the summer season,” the company said in a statement.

The company said it is working closely with the Greek Ministry of Tourism and other relevant authorities for the reopening of local tourist services in time to serve cruise passengers visiting Greece starting with the upcoming Easter holiday period.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines pushes restart to end of June

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 February 2021 04 February 2021

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destination focused operator of four ships, has confirmed that it is cancelling all sailings until the end of June 2021 in light of the current restrictions in England as a result of the pandemic, the company said in a statement.

The company had been due to resume sailing on 22 May, with the extension to affect 14 sailings.

All guests affected will be given a number of options, including a no quibble refund or an additional future cruise credit.

Peter Deer, Managing Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said in the statement: “We are constantly reviewing our back in service dates in line with the latest Government guidance, and working closely with CLIA and other industry bodies towards a return to sailing."

“This extra time allows us the opportunity to fully understand how the roll-out in the vaccine affects the procedures we operate on board and ashore."

“We know that our guests are missing cruising, as indeed are we, and we can’t wait to welcome them all back on board when the time is right.”

Chantiers de l’Atlantique delivers MSC Virtuosa

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 February 2021 01 February 2021

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, said it has taken delivery of MSC Virtuosa from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France.

The ship is the second unit of the planned three strong Meraviglia Plus class and has a gross tonnage of about 177,100. It has capacity for 4,842 passengers and was built at a cost of USD850 million, according to Shippax Info.

MSC Virtuosa will enter service on 16 April, with four cruises in the Mediterranean of three, four and 10 nights before it will move to its new homeport of Kiel, where its will commence Northern Europe itineraries from 8 May.

The company will take delivery of one more ship this year, the 169,380 gross ton MSC Seashore, which is due to be delivered from Fincantieri in Italy in July.

Senior appointments at Kristina Cruises

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 January 2021 28 January 2021

Kristina Cruises, the Finnish cruise tour operator, has published a number changes in its senior management.

Anu Markkanen will take over as Managing Director from 1 February. She succeeds Mikko Partanen, who will retire from the post for 25 years and who will become a board member from the beginning of February.

Birthe Suni has been appointed Production Manager with responsibility for developing the cruise tour portfolio that the company offers. She has worked in this field with the company before taking up her new post.

Antti Partanen, who has been responsible for digital marketing at the company, will take up the post of Director of Marketing, also from 1 February.

Photo: Mikko Partanen with new Managing Director Anu Markkanen

Planned merger of Fincantieri and Chantiers de l’Atlantique falls through

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 January 2021 28 January 2021

A proposed merger between Fincantieri, the listed Italian shipbuilder in which the government holds a majority stake, and the French state controlled Chantiers de l’ Atlantique shipbuilder has fallen through, the finance ministries of France and Italy said in a joint statement.

The merger was first initiated in 2018 and the final deadline to complete was set for 31 January 2021.

The European Commission had expressed reservations about the plan on the note that it could reduce competition in the cruise ship building sector as both companies are major actors in this area. In October 2019, it decided to launch an inquiry into the proposed merger and its potential effects.

The stance of the commission and uncertainty in the outlook for the tourism sector as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, so that the current economic context does not allow the continuation of the merger, the two ministries said.